Aeroplane



LSE L00@ c. F. SMITH AEROPLAN E Filed May 2,9, v1924 2 sheets-'sheet 1 nvantozn Ill C. F. SMITH @cm 7. w24.

AEROPLANE 1924 2 shee-sne'er z Filed May 29 Snom/Moz A MMM ammgs Patented @et '7, i924.

CHARLES FRANCIS SMITH, 0F WESTFIELI), NEW YORK.v

AEROPLANE.

Application led May 29,

T0 all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANCIS SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at "Westfield, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements Iin Aleroplanes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to l the accompanying drawing.

rlhis invention relates to improvements` in aeroplanes, and has for its object to pro- .vide an improved machine of this character that will be capable of direct vertical ascension.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combinations and arrangements of parts comprising the same, will be under- `stood from the following detail description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side'elevation of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig, 2 is a vertical section of the main portion of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of one of the planes.

Fig. 4L is a detail transverse section of one ofthe planes.

Fig. 5 is a detail section of one ofjthc piston members ofthe air forcing means.

The invention comprehends an aeroplane having a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on `said tubular body part to extend transversely thereof around the same and to revolve thereabout, power means for driving the planes in opposite directions, and air forcing means associated with and operated by the revolving planes for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body part to the under side of the machine below the planes, in combination with means for propelling the machine horizontally, the propulsion effort developed by the pressure of the air expelled vdownwardly from the underside of the machine coupled with the rarefactiou of the air above the planes being suliicient to lift and sustain the Vvpart 1.

1924. serial No. 716,630.

machine, enabling the same to rise vertically.' More particularly the invention contemplates a machine of this character having planes of inverted conical shape or ofdished formation with the dished side disposed upwardly, and air forcing and `propulsion means associated with each plane and comprising an annular pump chamber on the plane located centrally at n the upper side thereof, and a reciprocating piston in each pump chamber, the pistons being `coupled to the planes to rotate therewith while permitting reciprocatory movement of the pistons relative to the planes, an engine for driving each plane, a cam way for each piston, and

rollers journaled on the tubular body part .and engaging the cam ways of the piston4 to alternately reciprocate the pistons.

While a specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood thatl changes and variations may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention embodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling 1within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

Referring to 'a detail-description of the particular embodiment ofthe invention in the drawings, l designates the tubular body part shown as of cylindrical form with yan ,upper dome like end part 1a and being open lat its lower end 1b.

-line and dished with the dished side facing upwardly, the same being preferably, as

shown, of inverted conical form, said planes having hub portions 2a, 3a, engaging suitable anti-friction bearings et on the tubular body 5 "and V6. designate engines which may be of any of the conventional types of internal combustion engine, for driving the planes 2, 3. |The engines 5 and 6, which aresuit-ably mounted on the tubular body part 1, preferably, as shown, at opposite Sides thereof, have driving shafts 7, 8, on

which are bevel pinions 9, 10, which mesh with bevel pinions, 11, 12, on the hub-portions 2a, 3a of the revolving `planes2, 3.

Associated ywith each of the revolving planes 2, 3, is air forcing means, said means annular wall extending from the outer sidev wall 16 to the periphery ot the plane and forming with said side wall andy a portion of the plane an air chamber 162. The tubular body part 1 is provided with rings of ports 17, 1S, and the inner walls 15 ot the pump chambers 13 have lowerlport'ions surrounding the rings ot ports 17, 13, of the tubular body part 1 and oliset outwardly tromthe tubular body part, and each provided with a ring ot ports 19. The pistons le are each provided with a series of ports 14t1 withV inwardly opening valves 141b controlling the same so that upon the up stroke of the pistons, the valves 14h will open and air will be drawn into the pump chambers 13, and on the downward stroke of the pistons the valves la thereof will close and the air in the pump chambers 13 will be forced therefrom through the ports 19, 17, 13, into the interior of the tubular body part 1 and downwardly 'through the same out ot' the lower end 1h thereof to the underside of the machine below the planes. rlhe pistons 14C are coupled to the planes 2, 3, to rotate therewith and provide tor reciprocatory movenient of the pistons relative to the planes by pins 20 on the planes 2, 3, engaging openings 21 in the pistons 111, suitable packing, not shown, being provided for the openings 21. with the planes 2, 3, to be :alternately operated thereby. Each pump piston is provided` with an annular part 22 which has a cam groove or way 23, that is engaged by pairsy of rollers 24 journaled1 on transverse( rods 25 inedly secured to the body part 1. The cam grooves or ways 23 have oppositely disposed elevated portions 23EL and intermediate depressions 23h, said cam grooves or ways being relatively arranged so that the pump pistons 141 will be alternately operated by the revolving planes, 2, 3.

Fixedly secured to the body part 1 between the planes 2, 3, is a car 26, the length oit the car being shown substantially equal the diameter of the planesq the car 26 being arranged with the tubular body part 1 eX- l ending centrally ot the ends of the car. at the 'forward end oit the car 26 is mounted a propeller 27 for propelling the machine horizontally, said propeller 27 being shown :is the conventional form ot aeroplane propeller. The propeller 2? is driven by a suitable interna-l combustion engine (not shown)` in accorda-nce with the common practice. 23 ignates a laterally swinging` steeringV vane mounted on the other end of the car lhe pump pistons 1K4. are connected 26 and having suitable cont-rol means not shown. The machine may be provided with a landing chassis 29 of any suitable construction.

rlhe tubular body part 1, the revolving plane 23, andthe' other parts of the machine are constructed of any suitable material sufficiently light and possessing the requisite strength.

ln the operation of the machine air will be drawn in by the air forcing means from the upper side of the planes 2, 3, and' forced downwardly through the tubular body part 1 to the under side of .the machine, the propelling power developed by the pressure of air expelled below the under side ot the machine and planes, with thel ra-.retaction produced at the upper side of the planes, being sutiticient to litt the machine vertically;

What l claim is: y

1. An aeroplane including' vertically extending tubular body part, a` pair'of circular planes mounted' on said tubular body part to entend transversely thereof around' the same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arranged in superposedv spaced relation, power means for revolving the'- planes 'in opposite directions, and air forcing means associated with each of the planes and operated thereby for drawing'air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the saine downwardly through the tubular body part to the under side ot' the machine below the planes.

2. An aeroplane including a vertically cxtending tubular body part, a pair ot circular planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend transversely thereof' around the same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arranged in superposed' spaced relation, power means for revolving? the planes in opposite directions, a reciprocating air pump associated with each of the planes and operated alternately thereby 'for drawing air from the upper side ofthe planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body part to the under side of the machine below the planes.

3. An aeroplane including a vertically eX- tending tubular body part, a pair 'of circular planes mountedv on said vtubular body part to extend transversely thereof around tie same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arrangedA in superposedv spaced relation, power means for revolving' the planes in opposite directions, and air Jrforcing means associated with each of the pla-nes and operated thereby for drawing air from the upper side' of the planes and forcing the saine downwardly through the tubular body part to the under side ot the machine below the planes, said air forcing means comprising a pump chamber onv each of the planes, passages leading trom the pump chamber to the interior ot said tubular body part, a

piston in each pump chamber coupledto one of the planes to rotate therewith and for reciprocatory movement relative thereto withn in the pump chamber, a cam way on each of said pistons, rods extending transversely of the tubular body part and fixed thereto, and rolls journaled on said rods and engaging the said cam ways of the pistons.

4:. An aeroplane including a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend transversely thereof around the same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced relation, power means for revolving the planes in opposite directions, and air forcing means associated with each of the planes and operated thereby for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body part to the under side of the machine below the planes, said air forcing means comprising a pump chamber on each of the planes, passages leading from the pump chamber to the interior of said tubular body part, a piston in each pump chamber coupled to one of the planes to ro-tate therewith and for reciprocatory movement relative thereto within the pump chamber, a cam way on each of said pistons, journals xed to the tubular body part, and rolls mounted on said journals engaging the said cam ways of the pistons.

5. An apparatus including a vertically extending body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend around the same and revolve thereabout as an axis, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced relation and being of dished formation with the dished side facing upwardly, power' means for revolving the planes, and air forcing means associated with each of the planes and operated thereby for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body part to the underv side of the machine below the planes.

6. An aeroplane including a vertically ex-V tending tubular body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend around the same and revolve thereabout as an axis, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced relation and being of inverted conical shape, power means for revolving the planes, and a reciprocating air pump for each of the planes located at the upper side and centrally thereof for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardlyT tl rough the tubular body part to the under side of the machine below the planes, said air pumps being connected with the revolving planes to be operated thereby.

7. An aeroplane including a vertically ex tending tubular body part, a pair of circuplanesbeing arranged in superposed spaced relation, power means for revolving the planes in opposite directions, air forcingv means associated with each of the planes and operated thereby for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly thro-ugh the tubular body part to the under side of the machine below the planes, in combination with means for propelling the machine horizontally.

8. An aeroplane including a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on said tubulaibody part to extend transversely thereof around the same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced relation, power means fory revolving the planes in opposite directions, air forming means associated with each of the planes and operated thereby for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body part to the underside of the machine below the planes, a frame secured to the body part between said planes, a vertically disposed propeller mounted on said frame for propelling the machine horizontally, and` power means for said propeller.

9. An aeroplane including a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circu lar planes mounted on vsaid tubular bodyy part to extend transversely thereof around the same, said planes being arranged insuperposed relation, air forcing means associated with each of thek planes, power means for operating said air forcing means, a car mounted on and extendingtransversely of the tubular body part between said planes, a vertically disposed propeller at one end of said car for propelling the machine horizontally, power means for said propeller, and a laterally swinging steering vane at the other end of said car.

l0. An aeroplane including a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circular planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend transversely thereof around the same, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced relation, air, .forcing means associated with each of the planes for drawing air from the upper side of the planes and forcing the same downwardly through the tubular body` part to the under side of the machine below the planes, and

power means for said air forcing means.`

11. An aeroplane including a vertically extending tubular body part, a pair of circularr planes mounted on said tubular body part to extend ltransversely thereof around l the same and to revolve thereabout, said planes being arranged in superposed spaced rela-tion, a separate engine for driving each plane mounted on said tubular body part, In testimony whereof hereunto ax my zufid air forcing means associated with each sgnslture.` in the presence of tWo Witnesses. o the aanes and operated thereb for draW- o v T Y Y r. Y. ing ai;V from the upper side ofythe planes (JHARLLS B RAB LH; SM1 Ed' and forcing the same doWnWaydly through YWitnesses:

the tubulm body part to the underside of DoRoTHY B. BOWEN, the machine below the planes. Colm E. OTTAWAY. 

